Bulldogs too good for fading Saints

It was Nick Riewoldt's 300-game milestone but the Western Bulldogs did the celebrating at Etihad Stadium, running away with a 57-point win over St Kilda.

The Dogs led by 25 points at halftime and kept the Saints to just two goals in the second half on their way to the 13.15 (93) to 5.6 (36) win.

Lachie Hunter, Tom Liberatore and Jack Macrae led the way at the stoppages for the Bulldogs, while Bob Murphy and Jason Johannisen were influential running off half-back.

Riewoldt made a solid contribution in his big game with 23 possessions and two goals, with Jack Steven, Leigh Montagna and David Armitage among the Saints' best.

A week after the slick Dogs torched Fremantle for seven first-quarter goals, they piled on the pressure early once again.

St Kilda didn't go inside the attacking 50 for the first 12 minutes of the match and can consider themselves lucky they weren't further behind than 17 points at the first break.

The Dogs were wasteful in the first but straightened up in the second as they punished turnovers, with none more spectacular than the brilliant intercept and blazing run by Johannisen that set up a Jake Stringer goal.

Riewoldt kicked the 651st goal of his decorated career in the third quarter but it was one-way traffic in the other direction.

The door was slightly ajar for the Saints as they trailed by 38 points going into the final term but Stringer slammed it shut with his second goal after another lightning-quick transition from yet another costly turnover.